diff --git a/api-catalog-package/src/main/resources/bin/start.sh b/api-catalog-package/src/main/resources/bin/start.sh
index 3dccacc414..bddf677978 100755
--- a/api-catalog-package/src/main/resources/bin/start.sh
+++ b/api-catalog-package/src/main/resources/bin/start.sh
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ if [ -n "${externalProtocol}" ] && [ -n "${ZWE_zowe_externalDomains_0}" ] && [ -
 fi
 
 CATALOG_CODE=AC
-_BPXK_AUTOCVT=OFF
+_BPXK_AUTOCVT=ALL
 _BPX_JOBNAME=${ZWE_zowe_job_prefix}${CATALOG_CODE} ${JAVA_BIN_DIR}java \
     -Xms${ZWE_configs_heap_init:-32}m -Xmx${ZWE_configs_heap_max:-512}m \
     -XX:+ExitOnOutOfMemoryError \
@@ -109,8 +109,8 @@ _BPX_JOBNAME=${ZWE_zowe_job_prefix}${CATALOG_CODE} ${JAVA_BIN_DIR}java \
     ${JVM_SECURITY_PROPERTIES} \
     ${EXTERNAL_URL} \
     ${CUSTOM_JVM_OPTS} \
+    -Dfile.encoding=COMPAT \
     -Dibm.serversocket.recover=true \
-    -Dfile.encoding=UTF-8 \
     -Dlogging.charset.console=${ZOWE_CONSOLE_LOG_CHARSET} \
     -Djava.io.tmpdir=${TMPDIR:-/tmp} \
     -Dspring.profiles.active=${ZWE_configs_spring_profiles_active:-} \
diff --git a/apiml-package/src/main/resources/bin/start.sh b/apiml-package/src/main/resources/bin/start.sh
index c8343b7369..5b2c8d23e0 100755
--- a/apiml-package/src/main/resources/bin/start.sh
+++ b/apiml-package/src/main/resources/bin/start.sh
@@ -215,7 +215,7 @@ fi
 # End OpenTelemetry
 
 APIML_CODE=AG
-_BPXK_AUTOCVT=OFF
+_BPXK_AUTOCVT=ALL
 _BPX_JOBNAME=${ZWE_zowe_job_prefix}${APIML_CODE} ${JAVA_BIN_DIR}java \
     -Xms${ZWE_configs_heap_init:-${ZWE_components_gateway_heap_init:-32}}m -Xmx${ZWE_configs_heap_max:-${ZWE_components_gateway_heap_max:-512}}m \
     -XX:+ExitOnOutOfMemoryError \
@@ -324,7 +324,7 @@ _BPX_JOBNAME=${ZWE_zowe_job_prefix}${APIML_CODE} ${JAVA_BIN_DIR}java \
     -Dcaching.storage.size=${ZWE_components_caching_service_storage_size:-${ZWE_configs_storage_size:-10000}} \
     -Dcaching.storage.vsam.name=${VSAM_FILE_NAME} \
     -Deureka.client.serviceUrl.defaultZone=${ZWE_DISCOVERY_SERVICES_LIST} \
-    -Dfile.encoding=UTF-8 \
+    -Dfile.encoding=COMPAT \
     -Dibm.serversocket.recover=true \
     -Djava.io.tmpdir=${TMPDIR:-/tmp} \
     -Djava.library.path=${LIBPATH} \
diff --git a/caching-service-package/src/main/resources/bin/start.sh b/caching-service-package/src/main/resources/bin/start.sh
index 5e77d594df..2dbea71abb 100755
--- a/caching-service-package/src/main/resources/bin/start.sh
+++ b/caching-service-package/src/main/resources/bin/start.sh
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ if [ -d "${original_infinispan_index_location}" ]; then
 fi
 
 CACHING_CODE=CS
-_BPXK_AUTOCVT=OFF
+_BPXK_AUTOCVT=ALL
 _BPX_JOBNAME=${ZWE_zowe_job_prefix}${CACHING_CODE} ${JAVA_BIN_DIR}java \
   -Xms${ZWE_configs_heap_init:-32}m -Xmx${ZWE_configs_heap_max:-512}m \
   -XX:+ExitOnOutOfMemoryError \
@@ -101,8 +101,8 @@ _BPX_JOBNAME=${ZWE_zowe_job_prefix}${CACHING_CODE} ${JAVA_BIN_DIR}java \
   ${LOGBACK} \
   ${JVM_SECURITY_PROPERTIES} \
   ${CUSTOM_JVM_OPTS} \
+  -Dfile.encoding=COMPAT \
   -Dibm.serversocket.recover=true \
-  -Dfile.encoding=UTF-8 \
   -Dlogging.charset.console=${ZOWE_CONSOLE_LOG_CHARSET} \
   -Djava.io.tmpdir=${TMPDIR:-/tmp} \
   -Dspring.profiles.active=${ZWE_configs_spring_profiles_active:-} \
diff --git a/discovery-package/src/main/resources/bin/start.sh b/discovery-package/src/main/resources/bin/start.sh
index 9c8e5e4dd6..d7c4d9deec 100755
--- a/discovery-package/src/main/resources/bin/start.sh
+++ b/discovery-package/src/main/resources/bin/start.sh
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ if [ "${ZWE_components_gateway_apiml_security_auth_uniqueCookie}" = "true" ]; th
 fi
 
 DISCOVERY_CODE=AD
-_BPXK_AUTOCVT=OFF
+_BPXK_AUTOCVT=ALL
 _BPX_JOBNAME=${ZWE_zowe_job_prefix}${DISCOVERY_CODE} ${JAVA_BIN_DIR}java \
     -Xms${ZWE_configs_heap_init:-32}m -Xmx${ZWE_configs_heap_max:-512}m \
     -XX:+ExitOnOutOfMemoryError \
@@ -123,13 +123,13 @@ _BPX_JOBNAME=${ZWE_zowe_job_prefix}${DISCOVERY_CODE} ${JAVA_BIN_DIR}java \
     -Dapiml.security.ssl.verifySslCertificatesOfServices=${verifySslCertificatesOfServices:-false} \
     -Dapiml.service.hostname=${ZWE_haInstance_hostname:-localhost} \
     -Dapiml.service.port=${ZWE_configs_port:-7553} \
-    -Dfile.encoding=UTF-8 \
     -Dibm.serversocket.recover=true \
     -Djava.io.tmpdir=${TMPDIR:-/tmp} \
     -Djava.library.path=${LIBPATH} \
     -Djava.protocol.handler.pkgs=com.ibm.crypto.provider \
     -Djavax.net.debug=${ZWE_configs_sslDebug:-""} \
     -Djdk.tls.client.cipherSuites=${client_ciphers} \
+    -Dfile.encoding=COMPAT \
     -Dloader.path=${DISCOVERY_LOADER_PATH} \
     -Dlogging.charset.console=${ZOWE_CONSOLE_LOG_CHARSET} \
     -Dserver.address=${ZWE_configs_zowe_network_server_listenAddresses_0:-${ZWE_zowe_network_server_listenAddresses_0:-"0.0.0.0"}} \
diff --git a/gateway-package/src/main/resources/bin/start.sh b/gateway-package/src/main/resources/bin/start.sh
index 71d1a27ed7..0b63c0ce12 100755
--- a/gateway-package/src/main/resources/bin/start.sh
+++ b/gateway-package/src/main/resources/bin/start.sh
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ if [ -n "${ZWE_GATEWAY_LIBRARY_PATH}" ]; then
 fi
 
 GATEWAY_CODE=AG
-_BPXK_AUTOCVT=OFF
+_BPXK_AUTOCVT=ALL
 _BPX_JOBNAME=${ZWE_zowe_job_prefix}${GATEWAY_CODE} ${JAVA_BIN_DIR}java \
     -Xms${ZWE_configs_heap_init:-32}m -Xmx${ZWE_configs_heap_max:-512}m \
     -XX:+ExitOnOutOfMemoryError \
@@ -204,13 +204,13 @@ _BPX_JOBNAME=${ZWE_zowe_job_prefix}${GATEWAY_CODE} ${JAVA_BIN_DIR}java \
     -Dapiml.service.port=${ZWE_configs_port:-7554} \
     -Dapiml.zoweManifest=${ZWE_zowe_runtimeDirectory}/manifest.json \
     -Deureka.client.serviceUrl.defaultZone=${ZWE_DISCOVERY_SERVICES_LIST} \
-    -Dfile.encoding=UTF-8 \
     -Dibm.serversocket.recover=true \
     -Djava.io.tmpdir=${TMPDIR:-/tmp} \
     -Djava.library.path=${LIBPATH} \
     -Djava.protocol.handler.pkgs=com.ibm.crypto.provider \
     -Djavax.net.debug=${ZWE_configs_sslDebug:-""} \
     -Djdk.tls.client.cipherSuites=${client_ciphers} \
+    -Dfile.encoding=COMPAT \
     -Dloader.path=${GATEWAY_LOADER_PATH} \
     -Dlogging.charset.console=${ZOWE_CONSOLE_LOG_CHARSET} \
     -Dserver.address=${ZWE_configs_zowe_network_server_listenAddresses_0:-${ZWE_zowe_network_server_listenAddresses_0:-"0.0.0.0"}} \
diff --git a/scripts/apiml-common-scripts.sh b/scripts/apiml-common-scripts.sh
index e24b098733..410b055d72 100755
--- a/scripts/apiml-common-scripts.sh
+++ b/scripts/apiml-common-scripts.sh
@@ -103,11 +103,11 @@ if [ "$(uname)" = "OS/390" ]; then
         | grep "major version" \
         | cut -d " " -f5)
 
-    if [ $JAVA_VERSION -ge 65 ]; then # Java 21
+    JAVA_VERSION=${JAVA_VERSION:-0}
+
+    if [ "$JAVA_VERSION" -ge 65 ]; then # Java 21
         ZOWE_CONSOLE_LOG_CHARSET=IBM-1047
-        # Java 21+ changed default encoding to UTF-8 (JEP 400). Set console encoding
-        # to EBCDIC for z/OS SYSPRINT to prevent garbled characters in early startup logs
-        JAVA21_CONSOLE_ENCODING="-Dstdout.encoding=${ZOWE_CONSOLE_LOG_CHARSET} -Dstderr.encoding=${ZOWE_CONSOLE_LOG_CHARSET}"
+        JAVA21_CONSOLE_ENCODING="-Dconsole.encoding=${ZOWE_CONSOLE_LOG_CHARSET}"
     fi
 fi
 
diff --git a/zaas-package/src/main/resources/bin/start.sh b/zaas-package/src/main/resources/bin/start.sh
index bc2aed9a4a..89370ebf1d 100755
--- a/zaas-package/src/main/resources/bin/start.sh
+++ b/zaas-package/src/main/resources/bin/start.sh
@@ -139,6 +139,7 @@ CERTIFICATES_URLS=${ZWE_configs_apiml_security_x509_certificatesUrl:-${ZWE_compo
 CERTIFICATES_URLS=${ZWE_configs_apiml_security_x509_certificatesUrls:-${ZWE_components_gateway_apiml_security_x509_certificatesUrls:-${CERTIFICATES_URLS}}}
 
 ZAAS_CODE=AZ
+_BPXK_AUTOCVT=ALL
 _BPX_JOBNAME=${ZWE_zowe_job_prefix}${ZAAS_CODE} ${JAVA_BIN_DIR}java \
     -Xms${ZWE_configs_heap_init:-32}m -Xmx${ZWE_configs_heap_max:-512}m \
     ${QUICK_START} \
@@ -148,8 +149,8 @@ _BPX_JOBNAME=${ZWE_zowe_job_prefix}${ZAAS_CODE} ${JAVA_BIN_DIR}java \
     ${LOGBACK} \
     ${JVM_SECURITY_PROPERTIES} \
     ${CUSTOM_JVM_OPTS} \
+    -Dfile.encoding=COMPAT \
     -Dibm.serversocket.recover=true \
-    -Dfile.encoding=UTF-8 \
     -Dlogging.charset.console=${ZOWE_CONSOLE_LOG_CHARSET} \
     -Djava.io.tmpdir=${TMPDIR:-/tmp} \
     -Dspring.profiles.active=${ZWE_configs_spring_profiles_active:-} \